Zheng Xie (1693–1766): The Poet Painter of Yangzhou Zheng Xie (1693-1765), commonly known as Zheng Banqiao, stands as a singular figure in Qing dynasty Chinese art—a painter who simultaneously embraced calligraphy and literature, forging an artistic vision deeply rooted in observation of the natural world and imbued with humanist sensibilities. Born in Xinghua County, Jiangsu Province, his early life was marked by hardship; orphaned at a young age, he endured considerable poverty before securing a position as a scribe – a testament to his determination and intellectual aptitude. Despite thes…